“Once again, House Republicans are wasting the Congress’s time on a bill that has nothing to do with creating jobs or dealing with the pressing issues that confront us before the end of the year. The Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act is based on the same failed claim that deregulation will lead to job growth. Economists from both sides of the aisle strongly disagree and have said the link between regulations and unemployment is negligible, and they further add that many of our regulations help businesses compete on a level playing field. This farm dust bill is merely a smoke screen for Republican inaction on legislation that is actually important and would have significant bearing on millions of Americans. Even worse, the bill’s definition of ‘nuisance dust’ is overly broad and makes it easier for mining, smelting, excavation, and industrial operations to pollute in rural communities.

“We should be focused on extending unemployment benefits for those seeking jobs, extending the payroll tax holiday for middle class families, and fixing the Medicare physician payment rate so seniors can continue to see their doctors. Democrats are ready to partner with Republicans to prevent these policies from expiring, and we must not leave until they have been addressed. I hope Republican leaders will stop playing political games and work with us to complete work on these items before the end of the year.”